Condition Lookup

Inverted Papilloma

Sub-category: Rare Tumors

Symptoms:
unilateral nasal obstruction; nasal discharge; epistaxis (nosebleeds); facial pain or pressure; anosmia (loss of smell)

Root Cause:
Benign but locally aggressive tumor arising from the mucosa of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses; associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, nasal endoscopy, imaging (CT or MRI), and biopsy for histopathological confirmation.

Treatment:
Surgical excision is the primary treatment, often via endoscopic sinus surgery. Regular follow-up is crucial to monitor for recurrence.

Medications:
While no medications treat the tumor directly, adjunctive therapy may include topical or systemic corticosteroids to manage associated inflammation and antibiotics for secondary infections.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively rare, accounting for approximately 0.5–4% of all nasal tumors.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
HPV infection (especially types 6 and 11), male sex, middle age, exposure to occupational irritants (e.g., wood dust, leather dust).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally favorable after complete surgical removal, though recurrence rates range from 10–20%; malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma occurs in 5–15% of cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrence, malignant transformation, sinus obstruction, and potential involvement of adjacent structures (e.g., orbit, skull base).

Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma (SNUC)

Specialty: Nose and Throat

Category: Nasal Conditions

Sub-category: Rare Tumors

Symptoms:
nasal obstruction; epistaxis; facial swelling; proptosis (bulging eye); headaches; visual disturbances

Root Cause:
Aggressive and poorly differentiated carcinoma originating in the sinonasal tract, likely arising from pluripotent cells; exact cause is unknown but may involve genetic mutations or environmental factors.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Nasal endoscopy, imaging (CT/MRI), and biopsy with immunohistochemistry to confirm histological subtype.

Treatment:
Multimodal therapy including surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Medications:
Chemotherapy agents such as cisplatin (platinum-based chemotherapeutic), etoposide (topoisomerase inhibitor), or targeted therapies like EGFR inhibitors may be used.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Extremely rare, less than 1% of all head and neck cancers.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Tobacco use, industrial/occupational exposure (e.g., wood dust, nickel), and potential viral factors (e.g., Epstein-Barr Virus).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Poor due to the aggressive nature of the tumor; 5-year survival rate is typically less than 30%, though outcomes improve with early detection and aggressive treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Rapid local invasion (orbit, skull base, brain), distant metastases, and recurrence after treatment.

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA)

Specialty: Nose and Throat

Category: Nasal Conditions

Sub-category: Rare Tumors

Symptoms:
recurrent and severe epistaxis; nasal obstruction; facial swelling; proptosis; headaches; hearing loss (if eustachian tube is obstructed)

Root Cause:
Benign but highly vascular tumor originating from the posterior nasal cavity, primarily affecting adolescent males; hormonal influence may play a role.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Nasal endoscopy, imaging (CT or MRI with contrast), and angiography to map blood supply. Biopsy is typically avoided due to the risk of severe bleeding.

Treatment:
Preoperative embolization of feeding blood vessels followed by surgical resection.

Medications:
No direct medical treatments; adjunctive therapy may involve iron supplements or blood transfusions for anemia caused by recurrent bleeding. Hormonal therapies such as antiandrogens (e.g., flutamide ) are under investigation for tumor reduction.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, occurring in approximately 1 in 150,000 individuals, almost exclusively in adolescent males.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Male sex, adolescence, and genetic predisposition (though specific genetic markers are unclear).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent after complete surgical resection; recurrence rates vary but are generally low with adequate surgical intervention.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe epistaxis, anemia, local invasion of critical structures (orbit, skull base), and difficulty in complete resection due to vascularity.

Neuroendocrine tumors of the larynx or pharynx

Specialty: Nose and Throat

Category: Throat (Pharyngeal and Laryngeal) Conditions

Sub-category: Rare Tumors

Symptoms:
hoarseness; difficulty swallowing (dysphagia); lump in the throat; breathing difficulty; chronic cough; blood-tinged sputum

Root Cause:
The tumor develops from neuroendocrine cells, which are responsible for hormone production. These cells can become malignant in the larynx or pharynx.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is made through a combination of clinical examination, laryngoscopy, imaging (CT or MRI), and biopsy for histological confirmation.

Treatment:
Treatment typically involves surgical resection of the tumor, possibly followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy depending on tumor grade and spread.

Medications:
Chemotherapeutic agents such as platinum-based drugs (cisplatin or carboplatin ) or etoposide may be prescribed, often in combination with other chemotherapy regimens. These are classified as antineoplastic agents.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Extremely rare, with an estimated incidence of less than 1 per million people annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Smoking, chronic irritation of the airways, genetic factors, and certain environmental exposures may increase the risk.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the tumor's grade, stage, and the extent of surgical resection. Early detection and complete removal have a good prognosis, though recurrence is possible.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Risk of local recurrence, metastasis (particularly to the lungs or lymph nodes), and difficulty in airway management if the tumor causes obstruction.

Liposarcoma of the throat

Specialty: Nose and Throat

Category: Throat (Pharyngeal and Laryngeal) Conditions

Sub-category: Rare Tumors

Symptoms:
painful lump in the neck; difficulty swallowing; hoarseness; unexplained weight loss; breathing difficulty; visible mass or swelling in the throat area

Root Cause:
Liposarcomas are malignant tumors that arise from adipose (fat) tissue. These tumors can occur in the throat, though it is extremely rare.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is confirmed through imaging (CT, MRI) and biopsy to examine tissue histology.

Treatment:
Treatment involves surgical excision of the tumor, often with adjuvant radiation therapy. Chemotherapy may be used in cases of metastasis or if the tumor is inoperable.

Medications:
Chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin , ifosfamide , or mesna, which are classified as antineoplastic and alkylating agents, may be prescribed for advanced or metastatic liposarcoma.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Liposarcomas of the throat are extremely rare, accounting for less than 0.1% of all soft tissue sarcomas.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age (most common in adults 40-60), genetic mutations (e.g., Li-Fraumeni syndrome), and previous radiation exposure.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The prognosis depends on the size, location, and ability to completely excise the tumor. Metastasis may lead to a poorer prognosis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Local recurrence, metastasis (especially to the lungs), and complications related to airway obstruction.

Parapharyngeal space tumors

Specialty: Nose and Throat

Category: Throat (Pharyngeal and Laryngeal) Conditions

Sub-category: Rare Tumors

Symptoms:
lump in the neck; pain or difficulty swallowing; hoarseness; breathing difficulty; sensation of a foreign body in the throat; unexplained weight loss

Root Cause:
Tumors that develop in the parapharyngeal space, which is a deep, narrow space in the neck that is located next to the pharynx. These tumors can be benign or malignant.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is typically confirmed through imaging (CT scan, MRI) and biopsy. A thorough physical examination is also necessary to assess for signs of nerve involvement or airway compromise.

Treatment:
Treatment is usually surgical excision, which may require removal of surrounding structures if the tumor is large or invasive. In cases of malignancy, radiation or chemotherapy may be added.

Medications:
In cases of malignancy, chemotherapy medications such as cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil may be used, classified as antineoplastic agents. Radiation therapy may also be used for local control.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Parapharyngeal space tumors are relatively rare, accounting for only 0.5-1% of head and neck tumors.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age (typically seen in adults), prior radiation therapy, and genetic factors such as neurofibromatosis.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The prognosis is largely dependent on whether the tumor is benign or malignant, as well as the size and location of the tumor. Benign tumors typically have a good prognosis after complete excision.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrence after surgery, nerve damage (especially to cranial nerves), airway compromise, and in cases of malignancy, metastasis to distant organs.